Senegal is set to hold its presidential elections on the 24th of March. This comes amid simmering electoral tension after the government postponed the polls that were meant to be held in February. Opposition parties have welcomed the new election date.
Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, announced the new date for the polls after intense pressure from opposition groups. The original date for the elections was February 25th, but lawmakers ruled to postpone the polls until December.
The President first argued that the elections needed to be delayed due to a dispute between the judiciary and parliament over the final list of candidates contesting this year’s polls. This sparked a series of protests and violent clashes with the police in the capital Dakar, and other parts of the country.
Senegal’s constitutional council later ruled that the postponement of the election was unlawful. The top court urged the electoral commission to take steps to hold the polls before Sall’s tenure ends in April.
About 19 candidates are contesting for the presidency in Senegal.
The new date for the elections leaves little time for the candidates to campaign. But opposition parties and their supporters say they are ready to participate in the polls on March 24th.
Senegal has had a stable democracy and political transition from one government to the other for many years. It’s hoped that the country’s democratic credentials will not be dented by the pre-electoral tension ahead of this year’s vote.
Senegal to hold its presidential elections on 24 March 2024:
